Firefighters, search and rescue workers and paramedics put their lives on the line for our safety every day, yet we tend to take their health for granted. “They’re so busy taking care of others, they sometimes don’t pay enough attention to taking care of themselves,” says Lynneth Stuart-Hill, an occupational physiologist in UVic’s School of Exercise Science, Physical and Health Education. Stuart-Hill’s research looks for ways to improve working conditions for first responders, whom she calls “occupational athletes.”

With the forecast indicating the possibility of heavy snow tomorrow, we wanted to provide this guidance to leaders who may be receiving questions from staff and faculty.

Rob Johns has seen first-hand the destruction and chaos that large-scale disasters can cause. In his previous role with the City of Victoria, UVic’s new manager of emergency planning visited Louisiana and Mississippi following Hurricane Katrina, and Christchurch, New Zealand after its major earthquakes. “Seeing such massive damage really drives home the importance of emergency planning,” Johns says. “Especially in Christchurch, with its similarities to Victoria in terms of earthquake risks and impacts, I was forcefully reminded that, while we can’t prevent these disasters from happening, we can and must prepare for them.”

The Great BC ShakeOut happens Oct.15 at exactly 10:15 a.m.—so be ready to DROP, COVER and HOLD ON! 

Have you checked your emergency kit lately? May 3-9 is Emergency Preparedness Week (EP Week) across Canada, a perfect time to review what to do in the event of a crisis on campus or at home.

May 4–10 is Emergency Preparedness Week, a great time to check your emergency kit and review what to do in the event of a crisis on campus, or at home. Emergency Preparedness Week is a national event that takes place every year during the first full week of May. EP Week encourages Canadians to become better prepared for a range of emergencies, by taking three simple steps:

All UVic employees will soon receive a copy of the new and improved UVic Emergency Procedures poster. Take the time to review the procedures for each type of emergency - just in case.

Do you know what to do if your office, classroom or home starts shaking during an earthquake? All UVic staff, faculty and students are encouraged to participate in the Great BC ShakeOut Earthquake Drill on Thursday, October 17… just in case.

May 5–11 is Emergency Preparedness Week across Canada. Following successful campus-wide “Drop, Cover and Hold On” drills during the Great BC ShakeOut, many students and staff have asked, “What should I do when the shaking has stopped?” Learning from the University of Canterbury in Christchurch, New Zealand, UVic has developed new procedures and a map for campus evacuation in the event of a damaging earthquake. The procedures will be distributed to all UVic faculty and staff during Emergency Preparedness Week.

The following University of Victoria researcher is available to discuss Monday’s events in Boston: Adam Molnar (Political Science) is a UVic doctoral student researching security, policing, and emergency management responses in the context of major …